Players Who Impact the Game Without a Stat Sheet

There is so much that goes on in a basketball game that doesn't show up on the Stat Sheet. The floor leader, the work-horse player, the communicator, and even the captain on the floor who brings calm in crucial moments. In this article we look at these under the radar players who impact the game in ways that don't show up on the stat sheet.    [player_tooltip player_id='638554' first='Emma' last='Rayes'] is that player that comes to mind. Rayes shot the three well last season, but her teammates had the points, rebounds, and assist department covered. Rayes did a good job of playing defense and forcing an extra pass from the opposition. On the rebound she was available for the outlet pass; and on press break she was in position when her point guard was double teamed or needed to reset the offense. Rayes had some games where she also knocked down several threes, but she is that player who does the little things that may not show up in the stat sheet.     [player_tooltip player_id='811411' first='Ronneisha' last='Thomas'] has always been a player that stood out for the little things she does on a basketball court. She is athletic and has great speed. I saw her at the Inside Exposure and she was a player who was always on the floor. She had a nose for the ball and she was always there to help with the press break, using her speed and basketball IQ. She didn't run the point, but she was always the player helping her fellow guards get out of trouble. On defense, she had the speed to cut off angles and drives and force the guard to give up the ball. Thomas was instrumental in helping her team reach the State Finals for consecutive years. She is the player with the quick hands who deflects a pass in the passing lane and the ball winds up in a teammates hand who gets credit for the steal. Her impact cannot be measured by stats, but as a testament to her importance- she is always on the floor in crucial moments making good decisions and keeping the pressure on the opposition, and making plays that don't show up in the stat sheet.     [player_tooltip player_id='633535' first='Alex' last='Gross'] is another player who does a lot of things on the floor that go unnoticed. Over the summer, I watched Gross breaking the press and setting up her teammates for shots, defending fast guards and stopping them from getting to the rim and scoring. Furthermore, she used her athleticism and speed to complement her point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. Gross is the player who takes the outlet, blows by a defender, and passes the ball to her teammate, who passes the ball to a big for the score. In that example, Gross did not receive credit on the stat sheet, but she was the one with the “hockey assist” that doesn't show up in the stat sheet. Gross can impact the game off the stat sheet, but she is very capable of filling it up at times. Last season, she had one game with eight three-pointers. She is at her best, and her team is at their best when Gross does the little things that don't show up on the stat sheet.     [player_tooltip player_id='512947' first='TaCarri' last='Neal'] is another player whose impact can not be documented on a score sheet or stat sheet. Neal chases down balls and gets it to her guards and sometimes it's just a loose ball she got possession of. She provides a physical presence in the middle and keeps the opposing center from securing the rebound. Sometimes she may change a shot and not block a shot. Neal is also a good passer out the post and sometimes her crisp pass may lead to a score on the subsequent pass. Her basketball Iq is also another characteristic that doesn't show on the stat sheet.       [player_tooltip player_id='908911' first='Elise' last='Horne'] is another player who brings things to a team that can't be measured on a score sheet: Intensity, confidence, effort, experience , etc. These are the intangibles that every team needs. Horne defends the post, keeps the opposing rebounders off the board, and passes well from the post. She too may change a player's shot and not block it . These efforts and plays don't show on the stat sheet. Horne has three state championship titles and knows the effort it takes to win. She is a selfless and impactful player whose contributions don't always show on the stat sheet.     [player_tooltip player_id='722922' first='Kennedy' last='Loux'] was very instrumental last season in her team's run to the final four, and she continues to be a major part of her team's success. Loux is that player who does the small things. She was one of the primary ball handlers, and on paper, it shows a respectable 6.1 assists per game, but she was key in the press break that led to many points. She is the player who may deflect a pass and not get the steal or help cause a turnover, and another player is credited with a "steal" on the stat sheet. Loux does make numerous plays that do show up on the stat sheet, but a lot of impactful plays don't show. I've yet to see "workhorse" on the stat sheet, and that she is.